Becoming Mr. October

February 24, 2014
If there ever was a clutch hitter in baseball, it was Reggie Jackson—so much so that his number was retired by two teams: the Oakland A’s and the New York Yankees. Jackson’s first stint with greatness came when he played for Oakland, earning MVP honors in the 1973 World Series. In 1977, as a Yankee, during game six of the World Series, Jackson hit three home runs. It was this moment that gave him the nickname Mr. October. But Jackson didn’t always hit the sweet spot in New York. His time in the Big Apple was marred by his deteriorating relationship with erratic manager Billy Martin, a rabid tabloid press, and the growing resentment of his teammates. Since the close of his career, Jackson has carved out a career as a professional motivational speaker—and this is evident in his prowess as narrator of this audio edition. His reading is crisp, but more importantly, he’s a natural—and oftentimes riveting—storyteller. And while during some of the book’s more dramatic moments, his reading seems a bit forced, this will be a must listen for baseball fans. A Doubleday hardcover. (Oct.)■